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MEMORIAL. 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS  UINARY 

SEP  14  1916 


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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/memorialofreveliOOhook 


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MEMORIAL. 


The  Rev.  Elias  Cornelius  Hooker  died  in  the  pastor- 
ate of  the  Congregational  Church,  in  Stockbridge,  Massachu- 
setts, December  5th,  1873.  For  brief  periods  of  years  he 
had  been  pastor  of  the  North  Church  in  Newburyport,  and 
also  of  the  First  Church  in  Nashua,  New  Hampshire.  At  the 
time  of  his  decease,  he  had  sustained  the  relation  to  the  Church 
in  Stockbridge  three  years  and  nearly  six  months.  His  minis- 
terial life,  from  the  date  of  his  licensure  to  that  of  his  death, 
was  but  thirteen  years  and  seven  months.  His  age  was  forty- 
one  years. 

Mr.  Hooker  was  a lineal  descendant,  on  the  paternal  side, 
and  in  the  eighth  generation,  of  the  Puritan  father,  Thomas 
Hooker,  of  Marfield,  Leicestershire,  England.  He  was  the 
first  pastor  of  the  Church  in  Hartford,  Connecticut. 

In  the  family  of  Jonathan  Edwards, — a fruitful  branch 
from  that  of  Thomas  Hooker,  — the  subject  of  this  Memorial 
was  in  the  fifth  generation.  On  his  maternal  side  his  line  of 
ancestral  descent  is  traced  back  through  the  families  of  the 
Huntingtons  and  Trumbulls  of  Connecticut,  to  the  Puritan 
father,  John  Robinson  of  Leyden,  Holland.  In  the  lines  of 
his  ancestries  there  have  been  — so  far  as  ascertained  — over 
fifty  ministers  of  the  gospel.  Of  the  female  descendants  in 
these  ancestral  lines,  fifty  or  more  have  been  the  wives  of 
ministers  of  other  families. 

BURTON  HIST,  COLLECTION 
DETROIT 

EXCHANGE  DUPLICATE 

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ILLINOIS  LIBRARY 
AT  URBAN A-CHAMPAIGN 


4 


Mr.  Hooker  was  born  in  Bennington,  Vermont,  July  19th, 
1832  ; the  oldest  son  of  Edward  W.  Hooker  and  Faith  Trum- 
bull (Huntington)  Hooker.  His  parents  gave  his  baptismal 
name  in  memory  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Elias  Cornelius,  a relative 
of  the  family  by  marriage,  and  who  died  in  the  Correspond- 
ing Secretaryship  of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners 
for  Foreign  Missions.  His  entrance  on  the  Christian  life  was 
in  his  seventeenth  year,  in  time  of  a revival  of  religion  in  the 
Normal  School  at  Westfield,  Massachusetts.  He  was  pre- 
paring for  the  profession  of  a school  teacher.  As  might  be 
expected,  his  entrance  on  “ the  way  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus  ” 
brought  him  face  to  face  with  new  and  surpassingly  interest- 
ing and  important  objects  for  which  to  live.  He  formed  his  de- 
cision to  commence  study  in  preparation  for  the  Christian 
ministry. 

On  the  last  day  of  1849,  he  passed,  with  the  family,  through 
overwhelming  affliction,  in  the  sudden  death  of  the  beloved 
daughter  and  sister,  Elizabeth.  Divine  grace  appeared  in  clear 
and  delightful  manner  in  him,  amidst  the  scenes  of  affecting 
dispensation.  A near  relative,  with  us,  in  our  grief,  wrote  of 
him  : 44  One  dear  child  of  your  father  has  been  translated  into 
the  kingdom  of  Christ  on  earth.  How  would  your  heart 
melt  with  gratitude  and  love,  to  hear  Cornelius  pray,  in  this 
family ; and  to  see  his  happy,  expressive  countenance  bright- 
ened by  the  consciousness  of  his  new  hopes  and  purposes. 
All  his  perplexities  as  to  the  great  aim  and  business  of  his  life 
are  now  at  an  end.” 

In  May  following,  the  family  were  again  bereaved,  in  the 
death  of  the  inestimable  and  beloved  wife  and  mother.  For  sev- 
eral years  she  had  suffered  impaired  health  ; disenabling  her 
for  the  cares  and  duties  devolving  upon  her,  and  for  the 
“ labors  of  love  ” in  which  she  had  earnestly  co-operated 
with  her  husband  among  his  people.  She  thus  soon  followed 
her  beloved  daughter.  Her  prayers  for  this  consecrated  and 
tenderly  beloved  son  had  been  answered.  And  in  these  afflic- 
tions of  family,  the  heavenly  Father  had  begun  the  process  of 


5 


his  “ refining  and  purifying  ” for  the  “good  work  ” appointed 
him.  He  soon  after  united  with  the  church  in  South  Wind- 
sor, Connecticut. 

He  spent  one  year  in  studies  preparatory  for  college  at 
Monson  Academy,  Massachusetts  At  its  close  his  venerable 
and  generous  kinsman,  Samuel  Farrar,  Esq.,  of  Andover, 
offered  him  assistance  in  completing  his  course  of  preparation 
for  college,  in  the  Phillips  Academy.  He  very  thankfully 
accepted  the  offer,  as  bringing  him  under  the  instructions  of 
one  of  the  most  thorough  and  successful  teachers  in  our 
country.  The  year  of  his  residence  there  was  one  of  high 
enjoyment  of  his  studies  under  Dr.  Samuel  H.  Taylor. 

From  the  Academy  at  Andover,  Mr.  Hooker  passed  to 
membership  in  Wiliams  College,  whence  he  graduated  in  1857. 
He  joined  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princetown,  New 
Jersey.  In  senior  year  there  he  received  from  the  Congre- 
gational Association  of  Rutland  County,  Vermont,  his  licen- 
sure as  a candidate  for  the  Christian  ministry. 

From  the  first  of  his  entrance  on  Christian  life  and  his  de- 
cision for  the  ministry,  Mr.  Hooker  had  contemplated  the 
devotion  of  himself  to  the  Foreign  Missionary  service.  In 
his  senior  year  in  the  Seminary,  he  attended  the  Anniversary 
of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Mis- 
sions in  Philadelphia.  His  soul  was  deeply  moved,  with  in- 
terest in  that  meeting,  and  the  subject  of  Foreign  Missions. 
The  frequent  embarrassments  by  ill  health  which  he  suffered 
had  somewhat  discouraged  his  missionary  wishes  and  expec- 
tations. These  discouragements,  and  his  receipt  of  applica- 
tions to  preach  as  a candidate  for  pastoral  settlements,  ulti- 
mately led  to  his  relinquishment  of  his  wish  to  enter  the  ser- 
vice of  foreign  missions. 

The  North  Congregational  Church  in  Newburyport,  Massa- 
chusetts, invited  him  to  their  then  vacant  pastorship.  Com- 
mitting himself  to  the  divine  guidance  and  help,  he  accepted 
the  call,  and  was  ordained  Dec.  11th,  1860.  His  church  and 
himself  were  made  happy  in  early  tokens  of  the  awakening 


6 


and  reviving  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  in  “ the  joy 
of  harvest.” 

He  delighted  in  his  work.  Whether  however  from  self- 
diffidence, or  from  the  seriousness  of  the  employment  of 
preaching,  or  from  other  causes,  he  had  a peculiar  sensitive- 
ness to  the  publicity  of  his  Sabbath  work.  In  a letter  to  his 
brother,  he  wrote : “ I find  a parish  like  this  a big  load, 
and  sometimes  I stagger  and  am  half  bewildered,  as  I try  to 
carry  the  bulk  — made  up  of  multiplicity  of  bulks.  How- 
ever, it  is  very  pleasant  work  to  me  ; easier,  — hard  as  it  is, 
— than  I anticipated  ; and  having  a great  many  little  allevia- 
tions and  encouragements  which  are  as  “ oil  to  the  wheels.’’ 
The  weather  does  have  a great  deal  to  do  with  our  perform- 
ances. Sometimes  when  I have  an  extra  poor  sermon,  if  I 
dared,  I should  pray  for  foul  weather.  At  such  times,  either 
for  want  of  prayer,  or  for  another  reason  which  I cannot  ven- 
ture to  suggest  the  day  is  distressingly  pleasant,  and  the 
the  audience  distressingly  numerous  and  attentive.  A minis- 
ter is  as  a city  set  on  a hill,  for  revealing  of  his  defects  as 
well  as  his  excellencies  Sometimes,  when  I am  especially  sen- 
sitive to  the  fact  that  I am  a candle,  merely,  and  feel  as  if  there 
were  great  propriety  in  my  being  4 put  under  a bushel,’  it 
is  very  trying  to  be  obliged  to  stand  boldly  up  on  4 the  can- 
dle-stick.’ At  such  times,  however,  I blaze  or  flicker  as  I 
can,  hoping  that  somebody  will  get  a little  light.” 

Between  Mr.  Hooker  and  his  younger  brother  there  was  a 
difference  of  a few  years  in  age.  Their  preparations  for 
college,  however,  and  their  studies  in  college,  being  mostly 
pursued  under  the  same  instructor,  their  intellectual  train- 
ing brought  them  into  intercourse  in  which  they  were  on  fair 
parity,  and  naturally  studied  each  other’s  minds  and  tastes, 
and  generously  estimated  each  other’s  powers.  While  most 
intimate  and  fraternal,  as  they  advanced  in  their  studies  and 
professions,  their  intercouse  became  enlivened  and  stimulated 
by  occasional  testings  of  each  other  in  the  arena  of  meta- 
physics and  theology.  Meanwhile,  on  all  the  fundamental 


7 


truths  of  the  gospel,  they  were  in  entire  harmony  with  each 
other,  and  in  full  accordance  with  the  views  of  divine  truth 
and  of  Christian  character,  experience  and  life,  which  distin- 
guished their  ancestors,  and  which  compose  that  system  to 
which  Paul  gave  the  designation,  “ Christ  Jesus  and  Him 
Crucified.” 

In  the  month  of  March  following  his  ordination,  the  North 
Church  edifice  was  destroyed  by  fire  ; a severe  loss,  and  inter- 
posing embarrassments  to  his  work.  Strengthened,  however, 
for  his  duties  in  the  trying  exigency,  he  laid  himself  out  for  his 
people’s  encouragement.  The  Baptist  Church  edifice  was 
kindly  offered.  His  people,  with  energy  and  promptitude, 
prosecuted  rebuilding  “ the  house  of  the  Lord.”  They  were 
happy  in  its  dedication  in  the  month  of  October  following. 

Mr.  Hooker,  meanwhile,  became  very  happily  married  to 
Miss  Margarette  Ceoelia  De  Bevoise,  of  Bedford,  Long  Is- 
land ; a lady  of  great  excellence  and  promise  of  usefulness 
in  the  station  of  a pastor’s  wife  Her  health  failed  early  in 
the  course  of  the  year,  and  she  died  in  April  1862,  Care  and 
solicitude  for  her,  added  to  his  parochial  labors,  finally  pros- 
trated his  own  health ; and  his  services  became  interrupted 
for  a time. 

The  coming  on  of  the  war,  with  its  attendant  agitations 
and  perils  to  the  nation,  enlisted  Mr.  Hooker’s  feelings  as  a 
patriot,  and  stirred  his  spirit  as  a Christian  minister.  On  May 
5th,  1861,  he  addressed  his  congregation  in  a sermon  on  Jere- 
miah 48  : 10.  On  Sabbath  July  29, 1862,  he  again  addressed 
his  people,  in  a discourse  entitled,  “ The  nation  responsible  to 
God  for  the  punishment  of  traitors;”  on  the  text  Jermiah  49; 
23.  The  two  discourses  were  published,  by  request.  In  the 
spirit  of  them  he  held  himself  ready  for  his  own  personal  duties, 
whatever  they  would  be,  whether  in  the  pulpit  or  the  field. 
In  one  of  the  conscriptions  for  the  enlargement  of  the  United 
States  Army,  and  which  reached  men  of  the  pulpit,  he  was 
drafted.  He  promptly  presented  himself  to  be  mustered  into 
the  ranks.  The  Medical  Examiner,  however,  rejected  him  as 


8 


not  haying  sufficient  ability  for  military  service,  from  unsound 
health  and  delicate  constitution.  Meanwhile,  he  deeply  felt 
for  those  who  were  called  to  part  with  their  friends,  drafted 
for  the  army.  When  called  to  marry  soldiers,  he  presented 
their  marriage  fees  to  their  respective  brides,  “as  a morsel  of 
consolation  for  having  to  resign  their  husbands  so  soon  for 
the  service  of  their  country.” 

The  time  arrived,  however,  when  his  low  state  of  health, 
and  his  depressing  consciousness  of  inability  to  continue  his 
services  as  pastor  of  the  North  Church,  constrained  him  to  the 
resignation  of  his  parochial  charge.  The  reluctance  of  his 
people  to  the  measure  led  them  to  propose  that  he  take  a 
year’s  recess.  They  offered  the  continuance  of  his  salary 
during  the  period,  and  pledged  the  supply  of  his  pulpit.  He 
went  on  a voyage  to  Cuba,  and  returned  and  took  another  to 
Europe  ; traveled  in  England  and  Scotland,  and  visited 
France  and  Switzerland.  Returning,  toward  the  close  of  the 
proposed  year,  not  having  regained  his  health  sufficiently  to 
render  it  safe  to  resume  his  work,  and  with  deep  regret  to 
himself  and  his  people,  he  was  compelled  to  renew  his  request 
for  dismission. 

After  an  interval  of  several  months,  his  health  having 
gradually  become  so  far  improved  as  to  justify  him  in  cau- 
tious experiments  in  preaching,  he  ventured  upon  an  en- 
gagement for  a temporary  supply  of  the  pulpit,  of  the  First 
Church  aud  society  in  Nashua,  New  Hampshire.  As  time 
passed  on,  and  his  ability  for  service  gradually  increased,  the 
people  united  in  extending  to  him  a call  to  their  pastorship. 
His  installation  took  place  on  September  14th,  1865. 

In  December  following  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  B. 
M.  Williams,  of  Newburyport,  Massachusetts  ; a relationship 
which  proved  highly  conducive  to  his  happiness  and  usefulness 
during  the  rest  of  his  life. 

In  Nashua,  he  found  himself  among  a people  loving  the 
faithful  dispensation  of  the  gospel  and  its  ordinances ; and 
giving  him  a large  place  in  their  respect,  confidence  and  affec- 


9 


tion.  His  health  enabled  him,  for  a length  of  time,  to  dis- 
charge his  duties  with  a good  measure  of  ease  and  satisfac- 
tion The  circumstances  of  his  parish  were  in  all  respects 
prosperous,  harmonious,  and  in  their  religious  condition, 
gratifying.  He  and  his  people  rejoiced  in  the  reviving  influ- 
ences of  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  hopeful  conversions  and  in  addi- 
tions to  the  Church  . The  co-operation  of  all  the  evangelical 
Churches  in  the  city,  with  each  other  in  whatever  pertained 
to  the  interests  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  was  cordial  and 
pleasant.  The  district  of  Congregational  Churches  surround- 
ing N asliua  he  found  a pleasant  and  prosperous  one.  And  the 
ministerial  fraternity  in  the  region  was  unsurpassed  in  worth 
of  character,  and  in  activity,  usefulness,  mutual  affection  and 
confidence. 

The  time  arrived,  however,  in  the  third  year  of  his  pastorate 
when  he  became  prostrated  upon  the  bed  of  sickness.  The 
apprehensions  which  he  felt  of  being  again  laid  aside  from 
his  work  ripened  into  the  trying  certainty  to  his  own  concep- 
tions, that  he  could  not  reasonably  expect  again  to  resume 
his  labors.  He  formed  the  determination  to  resign  his  pastor- 
ship, and  communicated  his  resignation  to  the  Church  and 
Society.  It  fell  upon  their  minds  to  the  production  both  of 
surprise  and  sorrow.  He  was  unwilling* to  listen  to  proposals 
contemplating  a recess  from  his  labors.  He  instinctively, 
and  with  intense  feeling,  shrank  from  the  idea  of  a minister 
being  a burden  upon  his  people,  and  pressed  their  acceptance 
of  his  resignation  without  delay.  Their  consent  was  reluc- 
tantly given,  and  a council,  called  for  the  purpose  of  his  dis- 
mission, resulted  therefor. 

Mr  Hooker’s  pastoral  affections  were  more  deeply  tried  by 
the  dissolution  of  his  relationship  with  the  Church  in  Nashua 
than  could  be  fully  understood  by  the  people.  While  taking, 
— with  such  decision, — his  steps  for  the  purpose,  he  was 
inflicting  pain  upon  himself.  His  attachment  to  them  was  of 
strength  and  ardor  unsurpassed  by  what  he  had  experienced 
in  his  first  pastorate.  To  one  living  with  him,  and  observing 


10 


how  his  people  in  all  their  interests  were  in  all  his  thoughts 
and  devisings  for  their  spiritual  good,  Paul’s  words  to  the 
Corinthians  had  illustration:  “ I willvery  gladly  spend  and  be 
spent  for  you.”*  A minister  who  succeeds  another  minister 
can  acquaint  himself  with  his  predecessor  through  study  of 
his  people,  as  he  finds  them.  Mr  Hooker’s  immediate 
successor,  the  Rev.  Frederick  Alvord,  thus  writes : 

“ A singular  providence  called  me  to  succeed  him  in  the  First 
Church  in  Nashua,  and  I count  it  a rare  felicity  to  follow  such 
a man.  He  prepared  the  way,  by  his  good  sense  and  wise 
administration.  He  bequeathed  no  Church  quarrels,  left 
behind  him  no  ‘ roots  of  bitterness  ’ to  trouble  his  successor. 
As  a preacher  he  was  eminently  evangelical.  He  exalted 
4 the  Cross  of  Christ.’  As  a pastor  he  was  always  welcome 
in  the  homes  of  his  families.  He  took  into  them  a blessing, 
and  left  a blessing.  Few  have  excelled  him  in  whole-souled 
devotion  to  his  work.  His  eye  was  single.  So  transparent 
was  his  character,  so  unselfish  were  his  motives  and  so  lofty  his 
aims  that  he  inspired  confidence  at  once.  All  felt  that  they 
could  safely  trust  him.  And  in  the  preacher  and  pastor 
trustworthiness  is  a quality  beyond  all  price.  The  Lord  mul- 
tiply the  number  of  ministers  of  like  pureness  and  consecra- 
tion.” 

Through  the  divine  blessing  on  means  for  regaining  his 
health,  Mr.  Hooker  again  became  able  to  preach,  cautiously 
restricting  his  labors,  however,  within  his  strength.  He 
preached,  for  short  periods,  to  several  congregations.  At 
length  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  feeling  that  he  might  once 
more  allow  himself  to  think  of  entering  a pastorship. 

*That  Mr.  Hooker’s  attachment  to  the  people  of  his  pastoral  charge 
in  Nashua  was  fully  reciprocated,  it  is  proper  to  state  in  this  connec- 
tion, that  though  four  years  afterward,  his  path  of  descent  to  his  grave  lay  at 
a distance  from  their  homes,  among  another  people  and  in  another  State, 
yet  their  affectionate  remembrances  of  him,  and  their  sympathy  for  him,  his 
family  and  the  people  of  Stockbridge,  attended  him  and  them  in  his  last  ill- 
ness. They  were  represented  on  the  occasion  of  his  funeral.  And  the 
present  Memorial  owes  its  preparation  and  appearance  from  the  press  to  their 
solicitation. 


11 


in  April,  1870,  the  Congregational  Church  and  Society  in 
Stockbridge,  Massachusetts,  solicited  his  services.  He  com- 
plied with  this  invitation,  and  visited  them  for  a few  weeks, 
occupying  their  pulpit.  They  extended  to  him  a unanimous 
call  to  their  pastorship.  There  were  peculiar  attractions  for 
him  in  Stockbridge,  as  a field  for  his  labors.  And  with  such 
promise  of  health,  he  was  very  happy  in  the  pastoral  relation 
which  became  established.  He  engaged  in  his  work  with  a 
satisfaction  which  fully  equalled  that  which  he  had  experi- 
enced in  the  places  of  his  previous  ministries. 

In  the  autum  of  1870,  “ The  Edwards  Family  Meeting” 
was  held  in  Stockbridge.  Mr.  Hooker  entered  into  the  ob- 
jects contemplated,  and  was  placed  on  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements.  By  the  people,  he  was  requested  to  deliver, 
in  their  behalf,  an  44  Address  of  Welcome.”  The  meeting 
was  held  September  6th  and  7th.  In  the  Memorial  Volume, 
subsequently  published,  his  Address  of  Welcome  appears  in 
full,  of  which  the  following  was  the  conclusion : 

44  Before  I close,  let  me  say,  that  there  was  One  personal 
Friend  of  the  great  man  in  Whom  he  took  great  delight ; of 
Whom  he  said,  himself : 4 1 have  often  had  sweet  compla- 

cency in  Him.  He  has  appeared  to  me  a glorious  and  lovely 
Being.’  That  Friend  is  living  still.  He  is  4 the  same  yes- 
terday and  to-day,  and  forever.’  We  have  already  joined 
with  you,  honored  friends,  in  special  and  reverent  invitation 
to  Him  to  be  present  on  this  occasion.  And  is  not  this 
bright  morning  His  smiling  acceptance  ? May  He  indeed 
grace  your  festival.  May  He  contribute,  — as  none  other 
can,  — to  your  endeavors  to  honor  the  memory  of  his  faith- 
ful servant.  Then  shall  your  coming  together  prove  not  only, 
— as  you  intend  it,  — 4 an  act  of  piety  toward  the  illustrious 
dead,’  and  4 a measure  of  fratenal  regard  for  each  other,’ 
but  also  a means  of  promoting  that  cause  to  which  your  rever- 
end ancestor  devoted  all  the  great  powers  of  his  mind  and 
heart.” 


To  this  Address  of  Welcome,  the  Hon.  J.  W.  Edwards,  of 
Marquette,  Michigan,  as  President  of  the  Meeting,  respond- 
ed in  grateful  and  cordial  language. 

Mr.  Hooker,  devoting  himself  to  his  loved  studies  and 
labors,  prosecuted  his  work  with  a satisfaction  unsurpassed  in 
any  of  his  previous  years  of  ministry.  Surrounded  by  a Church 
where  Scripture  truth  had  been  dispensed  by  such  men  for  so 
many  generations,  and  where  revivals  of  religion  had  been 
frequent,  as  divine  attestations  to  ministerial  fidelity,  well 
might  he  think  of  it  as  “ a field  which  the  Lord  hath  blessed.” 
He  saw  the  divine  blessing  attending  his  own  labors  there, 
especially  among  the  young  people  of  his  congregation,  many 
of  whom  became  subjects  of  divine  grace  and  united  with 
the  Church.  It  could  truly  be  said  of  both  pastor  and 
people,  that  they  enjoyed  a union  and  harmony  such  as  emi- 
nently conduces  to  growth  in  all  the  interests  of  “ the  life 
that  now  is,  and  of  that  which  is  to  come.” 

On  the  first  day  of  1873,  occurred  the  Stockbridge  New 
Year’s  Prayer  Meeting,  which  for  a long  course  of  years  had 
been  observed  by  Christians  there,  of  the  different  denomi- 
nations. That  meeting  was  held  in  the  Congregational  Hall. 
It  was  very  fully  and  solemnly  attended.  Mr.  Hooker  presi- 
ded in  the  meeting,  apparently  in  good  health  ; addressed  the 
assembly  with  fervency  and  impressiveness,  and  in  a hope- 
fulness of  spirit  which  was  animating,  as  regarded  the  then 
opening  year. 

As  the  winter  months  advanced,  he  was  able  to  perform 
his  duties,  in  comfortable  health.  A severe  iufluenza  was  at- 
tended and  followed  by  some  discouraging  symptoms.  He 
continued,  however,  to  preach,  though  with  some  difficulty, 
for  several  Sabbaths.  On  Sabbath,  March  16th,  1873,  he 
preached  a sermon  upon  the  text  Mark  xi.  24,  the  words  of 
Christ:  “Therefore  1 say  unto  you,  what  things  soever  ye 
desire,  when  ye  pray,  believe  that  ye  receive  them,  and  ye 
shall  have  them.”  That  discourse  — in  the  process  of  time  — 
proved  to  be  his  last.  He  began  another  discourse  on  Col. 


18 


iv.  2.,  “ Continue  in  prayer  and  watch  in  the  same  with 
thanksgiving which  Mrs.  Hooker  after  his  death  found 
among  his  manuscripts  unfinished,  but  manifestly  designed 
to  be  the  continuation  of  the  subject  of  the  last,  Christian 
prayerfulness. 

Mr.  Hooker  left  Stockbridge  in  the  opening  of  the  summer 
that  he  might  try  the  effect  of  change  of  scene  and  of  at- 
mosphere and  climate  ; the  health  of  Mrs.  Hooker,  as  well 
his  own,  requiring  the  measure.  They  first  tried  the  sea  air 
and  climate  of  Nantucket,  spending  a few  weeks,  with  bene- 
fit to  the  health  of  Mrs.  Hooker,  but  not  perceptibly  to  the 
improvement  of  his  own.  The  circumstance  was  a discour- 
aging one  in  its  relation  to  his  case. 

While  sojourning  at  Nantucket  he  visited  Boston,  that  he 
might  seek  medical  examination  and  advice,  and  called  upon 
one  of  the  prominent  physicians.  As  the  result  of  a careful 
and  thorough  examination  of  his  case,  the  physician  in- 
formed him  that  his  lungs  were  'seriously  diseased,  and  that 
he  could  not  safely  resume  his  professional  labors  for  a long 
time  to  come,  if  ever.  Of  this  opinion,  the  concurrence  of 
other  physicians,  whom  he  subsequently  consulted,  was  con- 
firmatory 

Writing  to  his  father, — from  Nantucket,  July  11th,  1873^ 
— he  said  : “ Matters  with  us  have  assumed  a very  new  aspect 
since  I last  wrote.”  Mentioning  the  particulars  of  his  inter- 
view in  Boston  with  Dr.  Ellis,  he  proceeds : “ As  I have  no 
longer  any  prospect  of  usefulness  to  Stockbridge  Church,  I 
have  sent  them  my  resignation,  which  will  probably  be  read 
next  Sabbath.  We  shall  remain  here  till  after  the  Sabbath, 
and  then  providence  permitting  shall  return  home 

“ The  future  is  all  dark  to  us,  save  as  we  hope  we  have 
hold  of  His  hand  who  Heads  us  through  no  darker  rooms 
than  He  has  gone  before.’  As  I look  back  over  my  life,  it 
seems  a series  of  disappointments.  And  yet,  I try  to  be 
grateful  that  I have  been  ever  useful  as  I have  ” * 

*The  feeling  of  the  father  towards  his  children  received  new  impulse  from 
this  sudden  change  in  his  prospects  of  life.  “ We  were  so  sorrowful  and  rest- 


14 


In  his  letter  to  his  people,  tendering  his  resignation,  after 
reviewing  the  previous  months  of  his  inability  to  preach  and 
giving  them  the  result  of  the  recent  medical  investiga- 
tion of  his  case,  he  expresses  his  conviction  that  it  is  his 
duty  to  withdraw  from  his  pastorship  and  give  place  to  an- 
other whose  health  and  strength  will  enable  him  to  perform 
the  labors  which  their  parochial  and  spiritual  interests  require. 
He  adds : “ It  is  with  great  reluctance  and  pain  that  I take 
this  step.  I have  twice,  already,  been  bidden  away  from  the 
very  entrance,  as  it  were,  of  what  promised  to  be  a useful 
and  happy  field  of  labor.  And  now  this  call  to  cease  from 
labors  so  lately  assumed  among  you  comes  in  accents  that  it 
may  be  forbodes  final  disappointment.  I need  not  trouble 
you  with  an  attempt  to  express  my  own  private  feelings,  at 
being  obliged  to  lay  down  a loved  life  work,  thus,  in  the 
midst.  But  I may  say  the  sorrow  is  greatly  enhanced,  of 
having  to  do  it  among  a people  for  whom  I have  come  to  en- 
tertain such  esteem  and  affection  as  I do  toward  you  : among 
whom  my  labors  have  been  received  with  exceptional  kind- 
ness, and  thus  made  far  more  useful  and  happy  than  they  could 
otherwise  have  been.  But  our  Heavenly  Father’s  hand  is  in 
all  these  things.  May  you  and  I be  able  to  recognize  it  in  a 
spirit  of  filial  and  loving  submission.  As  to  the  time  of 
my  release  from  my  pastoral  relation  to  you,  so  far  as  I am 
concerned,  I should  wish  it  to  take  place  immediately.  So 
far  as  the  act  of  an  Ecclesiastical  Council  is  concerned,  I am 
content  that  the  matter  should  rest  till  you  have  secured 
some  one  to  take  my  place,  in  which  case  the  same  Council 
that  installs  him  can  dismiss  me. 

less  that  day,”  writes  his  wife,  “ that  he  said  he  would  write  to  Richard.  It 
would  please  the  child  to  get  a letter  all  his  own.  It  was  hard  for  him  to 
write,  the  constrained  position  wearied  him  so  much.  He  accomplished  it, 
however,  printing  the  letter  with  his  pen,  in  length  covering  nearly  a sheet  of 
commercial  note  paper.  He  wrote  his  child  nothing  of  his  own  health  and 
saddened  prospects.  It  was  a beautiful  delineation  of  the  actings  of  a father’s 
love  in  prospect  of  his  shortening  life  and  looking  upon  his  little  son  and 
daughter  and  their  mother  ere  long  to  be  left  alone. 


15 


“ A ncl  now,  my  dear  people,  I commend  you  to  Him  who 
is  our  only  sufficient  stay,  and  guide,  and  comforter,  in  all 
the  trying  changes  of  this  life?  May  4 His  good  Spirit  ’ ever 
dwell  with  you,  and  may  the  blessings  of  salvation,  through 
Jesus  Christ  his  Son,  abound  in  your  hearts  unto  eternal 
life.” 

In  response  to  this  communication  his  people  unanimously 
adopted  the  following : 

Resolved : That  our  pastor,  the  Rev.  E.  C.  Hooker,  be 

respectfully  but  earnestly  requested,  to  acquiesce  in  the  sin- 
cere wish  and  desire  of  his  Church  and  people,  that  his  letter 
of  resignation  be  allowed  to  lie  over,  without  final  and  de- 
finite action,  till  the  first  of  April  next. 

Resolved : That  it  is  our  wish  that  the  salary  of  our  Pas- 

tor be  continued  as  usual,  to  the  first  of  next  April.” 

In  his  reply,  acknowledging  his  receipt  of  the  resolutions 
communicated  to  him,  he  remarks  : “ I have  only  to  say,  that 
inasmuch  as  my  sole  object  in  tendering  my  resignation  was 
to  leave  you  at  liberty  to  act  in  present  circumstances 
as  should  seem  best  to  yourselves,  I am  ready  to  accede  to 
your  request.  The  relationship  existing  between  us  is  very 
dear  to  me,  and  I am  more  than  glad  to  have  it  continued,  so 
long  as  it  may  be  consistent  with  your  wishes  and  interest ; 
though  I shall  be  unwilling  that  it  continues  one  moment 
longer.  For  your  generous  kindness  expressed  in  the  reso- 
lution that  my  salary  be  paid  in  fu]l  for  the  year,  to  the  first 
of  April,  1874,  I desire  you  to  accept  my  most  sincere  and 
heartyj  thanks.  Dependent  as  I am  upon  my  professional 
labors  for  support,  I know  not  what  I should  do  but  for 
your  timely  aid  thus  afforded.  And  permit  me  to  add,  that 
this  action,  and  indeed  all  contained  in  the  resolutions  above 
referred  to,  taken  with  your  exceedingly  patient  and  kind 
treatment  of  me  and  my  family  during  the  past  months,  is 
helping,  greatly,  to  keep  hope  bright  in  these  days  of  trial  and 
uncertainty.  With  prayer  unceasing  for  your  highest  wel- 


16 


fare,  in'  all  respects,  as  a Church  and  People,  I remain  yours 
in  Christian  affection, 

E.  C.  Hooker.” 

Encouraged  and  cheered  by  the  generosity  and  kindness  of 
his  people,  and  shrinking  from  all  experiments  suggested  for 
trying  a change  of  climate  for  the  winter,  he  decided  to  re- 
main in  Stockbridge.  This  decision  prepared  him  to  “ study 
to  be  quiet,”  and  to  use  whatever  means  might  be  for  his 
comfort,  with  his  dear  family  and  people  around  him,  and  for 
the  softening  of  the  winter  to  his  case.  The  first  depressing 
effects  of  the  opinions  of  his  medical  advisers  became  in  some 
degree  alleviated.  Occasional  alleviations  of  the  symptoms  of 
his  disease,  led  him  and  all  who  loved  him  to  think  of  the 
possibility  that  he  might  yet  be  spared  in  life,  and  do  some- 
thing more  in  his  Lord’s  service.  In  one  of  his  letters, — dic- 
tated when  in  such  hopefulness, — he  spoke  of  the  earnest 
prayer  of  himself  and  his  beloved  wife,  pleading,  “ Lord  if 
thou  wilt!”  and  added:  “Sometimes  I feel  such  confidence 
that  He  will  hear  our  prayer,  that  I am  almost  betrayed  into 
saying,  * When  I get  well  I will  do  so  and  so.’  I do  not  feel 
anxious  to  understand  the  precise  meaning  of  certain  symptoms 
in  my  case,  and  do  not  care  to  consult  physicians  further. 
Humanly  speaking  it  is  no  matter  what  the  Doctors  say,  tor 
unquestionably  I am  beyond  relief  from  human  power  alone. 
But  it  is  not  human  power  that  has  anything  to  do  with  stay- 
ing my  hopes  in  these  days.” 

He  highly  enjoyed  the  scenery  of  Stockbridge  and  its  sur- 
roundings, while  the  beautiful  and  gorgeous  hues  of  the  for- 
ests were  coming  on  and  passing.  “ We  have  had  a remarka- 
ble series  of  fine  autumnal  days.  I wish  you  could  have 
seen  Stockbridge  in  these  last  ten  days.  These  hills  have 
been  in  a blaze  of  glory,  and  it  is  getting  to  be  almost  weari- 
some to  the  eye,  under  the  bright  sun.” 

In  one  of  his  letters,  he  gives  details  of  the  numerous  and 
various  tokens  of  the  considerate  kindness  of  his  friends 
around  him,  designed  for  his  comfort.  Such  tokens  were 


IT 


not  from  his  people  alone,  but  from  those  of  the  other  reli- 
gious societies.  He  said : “ Manifestations  of  friendship 
which  are  constantly  made  by  those  around  us  fill  our  hearts 
sometimes  to  overflowing.  No  one  could  have  kinder  friends, 
or  those  more  delicate  in  their  attentions.”  After  mention- 
ing some  marked  instances,  he  writes:  “ There  does  not  seem 
to  be  a person  in  the  parish  who  does  not  take  pleasure  in 
doing  kind  acts  for  us.  All  this  is  very  surprising  to  me.  I 
cannot  but  wonder  that  I should  have  such  friends.  But  I 
feel  that  they  are  all  only  so  many  instruments  expressing 
the  love  of  my  Heavenly  Father.  Indeed  His  friendship  is 
the  all-absorbing  joy  of  my  soul.  No  words  of  Scripture 
express  my  feelings  so  well  as  those  of  the  Psalmist : “Whom 
have  I in  Heaven  but  Thee,  and  there  is  none  on  earth 
that  I desire  besides  Thee.”  Thus,  though  his  path  was 
obviously  toward  the  grave,  it  was  being  “ paved  with  love,” 

— the  love  of  his  Heavenly  Father,  and  of  his  attached 
people. 

Time,  however,  had  shown,  that  during  all  these  alternating 
hopes  and  solicitudes,  encouragements  and  disappointments, 
he  was  slowly  approaching  the  close  of  life.  By  the  gen- 
tlest steps  possible,  his  Heavenly  Father  was  leading  him  in  the 
direction  of  the  Celestial  City. 

His  sister,  residing  in  Boston,  on  returning  from  a few 
days  visit  to  him,  thus  writes : “ I have  been  with  Cornelius 
and  seen  on  what  a thread  his  life  hangs,  till  I used  to  go  away 
and  weep,  because  I could  not  bear  the  strain  of  trying  to 
look  on  the  bright  side  another  minute,  without  relief.  His 
dear  wife  needed  to  have  every  word  possible  on  the  bright 
side,  when  we  used  to  get  away  and  talk  over  all  the  symp- 
toms, bad  and  good.  As  for  him,  if  we  broke  down  in  his 
presence,  the  dear  fellow  sometimes  wept  like  a child,  sobbing 
aloud.  He  was  so  full  of  beautiful  and  heavenly  spirit  that 

— either  way  — it  took  all  our  heart  to  look  forward  to  what 
seemed  certainty,  while  we  were  all  trying  to  comfort  each 
other  with  hopes  that  God’s  will  might  be,  to  give  him  back 


18 


to  us.  His  letters  are  sometimes  so  blight  that  when  I get 
one  I feel  strong  in  faith  and  full  of  courage.  All  our  hope 
is  in  God.  We  know  that  all  will  be  right.  Never  was  he 
so  precious  as  now.  He  is  child-like  in  sensiblity  to  little 
things,  and  to  love  and  sympathy  and  thoughtfulness.  He 
does  not  wish  any  of  us  to  be  reserved  with  him.  He  is  very 
near  his  Heavenly  Father,  it  seems  to  me,  while, — dear 
man, — he  does  try  to  get  well,  and  prays  for  it  constantly 
He  says  he  “ wishes  he  might  get  well,  if  only  in  answer  to 
his  prayer ; and  that  all  might  know  that  it  was  so,  that  God 
would  show  his  power,  as  beyond  all  the  belief  of  doctors, 
even.” 

Mrs.  Hooker  wrote  : “ One  of  his  last  days  he  said,  4 I have 
a good  deal  of  vitality  left  yet.’  ‘Yes,’  I said,  4 but  you  have 
a sad  tone,  as  you  speak  it.’  He  replied,  4 1 apprehend  that 
I have  vitality  enough  to  suffer,  but  not  to  recover.’  His 
only  fear  was,  that,  through  the  greatness  of  his  sufferings, 
which  he  dreaded,  he  might  do  or  say  something  that  would 
bring  dishonor  to  his  4 Lord  and  Master.’  I was  glad  that  I 
had  opportunity  to  tell  him,  before  he  left  us,  that  through 
all  these  months,  I had  been  astonished  even  at  the  gentle, 
brave  patience  which  he  showed.  He  evinced  rare  self  con- 
trol, and  I do  not  doubt  that  the  strength  for  it  was  given  in 
answer  to  his  earnest  prayers.  He  wished  that  Thanksgiving 
day  might  be  pleasant  as  possible,  4 for  ’ said  he,  4 1 have  a 
great  many  things  for  which  to  lie  thankful.’  And  he  very 
much  enjoyed  the  day. 

44  Thanksgiving  was  his  last  good  day.  At  noon  he  took 
his  ride  with  Col.  Goodrich.  Saturday  Mr.  De  Bevoise  came 
to  see  him,  and  he  had  a very  pleasant  day  with  him.  They 
rode  together.  It  was  his  last  ride. 

44  On  the  following  Thursday  when  the  Doctor  called,  Corne- 
lius told  him, — what  he  had  before  expressed, — his  fears  of 
suffocation.  The  Doctor  replied,  that  his  sufferings  were 
nearly  over.  He  was  surprised;  and  I had  to  repeat  the  re- 
mark to  him.  He  asked  the  Doctor  if  he  was  sure.  When 


19 


the  Doctor  told  him  there  were  unmistakable  signs,  he  said  : 4 1 
thought  I should  live  several  months  yet ; I did  not  think 
myself  sick  enough  to  die.’ 

44  After  a few  minutes  he  said : 4 How  quiet  I feel ! I be- 
lieve I can  say : 4 Come  Lord  Jesus , come  quickly ! ’ I took 
Mabel  and  Richard  to  him,  and  he  gave  each  of  them  and  me 
our  last  kiss,  bidding  us  adieu.  In  his  sleep,  and  dreaming, 
he  seemed  living  over  some  of  his  past  life,  and  was  among 
his  travels  in  Europe ; but  my  voice  easily  recalled  him  to 
consciousness.  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  were  spending 
the  night  with  us.  After  ten  o’clock  he ‘became  unconscious. 
There  was  nothing  I could  do  for  him,  and,  worn  out,  I put  my 
head  down  by  his,  and  we  slept,  till  the  last  few  moments. 
His  breathing  grew  fainter  and  fainter,  and  finally  stopped, — 
at  half  past  one. 

44  Our  friends  have  been  more  than  kind.  Everything  has 
been  done  for  me,  except  decisions  I must  make ; and  these 
my  dear  husband  had  anticipated,  and  rendered  as  easy  as 
possible  for  me,  by  giving  me  his  wishes.  I arranged  that 
the  people  should  take  their  last  view  of  him  on  the  Sabbath 
in  his  study.  A cross  of  flowers  was  laid  on  the  foot  of  the 
casket,  and  a crown  of  flowers  was  placed  on  a Bible  at  his 
head,  and  near  it  a little  sheaf  of  wheat.  His  face  was  beau- 
tiful ; and,  dressed  as  he  was  ordinarily,  it  looked  like  a 
sleep.” 

His  sister  Sarah,  writing  to  their  father,  of  the  funeral, 
says : 44  The  services  were  appointed  for  Monday,  at  3 : 30  P. 
M.,  to  give  opportunity  for  the  arrival  of  friends  by  the  train 
due  at  that  hour.  The  prayers  at  the  house,  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Dole,  and  in  the  Church  by  Mr.  Lawrence,  were  appropri- 
ate and  tender.  The  day  was  dark,  and  it  was  necessary  to 
light  the  pulpit,  which  was  done  by  shaded  lamps.  The  pul- 
pit and  the  family  slip  were  draped  in  black.  It  was  sad  to 
see,  that  after  so  many  months  of  wonderful  brightness  in  his 
spirit,  all  should  be  so  dark,  when  he  was  to  be  laid  away. 
The  first  hymn  had  been  selected  by  Cornelius  himself, 

4 Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul,’  etc. 


20 


Rev.  Mr.  Scudder’s  address,  afterwards  printed  for  private 
distribution,  was  very  appropriate.  Long  and  intimate  ac- 
quaintance had  prepared  him  to  speak  of  him  justly,  and  from 
the  full  heart  of  a Christian  brother  in  the  ministry.  He  brought 
before  the  people,  in  a brief  review,  and  in  prominent  points, 
what  he  had  been  as  a minister.  Speaking  of  his  pastoral 
success,  as  due  to  his  great  love  of  his  people,  he  remarked  : 
4 Mr.  Hooker  sometimes  made  the  impression, — upon  those 
who  did  not  well  know  him, — of  being  a man  of  intellect 
but  not  a man  of  heart.  His  Edwardean  brow  rising  like  our 
own  Berkshire  4 Dome  ’ toward  heaven,  and  his  disgust  of  any 
affectation  of  feeling,  perhaps  favored  this  impression.  But 
this  was  a wrong  conception  of  him.  His  heart  was  like  a deep 
clear,  quiet  stream.  There  was  no  foam  of  sentimentality 
about  him  ; no  easy  disturbance  of  feeling,  and  yet  he  could  feel 
deeply  ; as  the  still  river  has  in  itself  the  sleeping  thunder  of 
Niagara.  His  love  for  his  people  appeared  in  his  great  desire  to 
recover.  He  was  young.  He  had  many  plans  for  his  people’s 
good.  He  loved  to  preach  the  gospel.  He  longed  to  help 
men  to  a higher  life.  It  was  his  strong  desire  for  these  fami- 
lies, that  they  should  all  be  saved.  It  seemed  to  him  that  by 
God’s  help,  he  could  do  this  Church  good.  The  place  suited 
him,  and  so  he  pleaded  with  God  to  spare  his  life  a little  lon- 
ger, that  he  might  minister  to  the  souls  of  men.  The  last 
time  I saw  him  was  when  he  could  not  speak  without  great 
difficulty.  He  was  saying  how  much  he  wished  to  live  for 
his  people’s  sake,  and  exclaimed : 4 The  kindness  of  this  peo- 
ple is  to  me  something  astonishing.  I cannot  understand  it ; 
I never  knew  such  a poople  !’ 

44  These  nearer  friends  do  not  need  my  words  of  consola- 
tion, for  I am  certain  they  feel  that  if  he  could  face  death  so 
bravely,  they,  by  the  same  help,  can  face  life.  The  same 
Jesus  who  led  him  across  the  beautiful  stream  can  lead  them* 
And  he  will,  for  he  loves  the  one  for  whom  they  mourn.  Oh  ! 
think  how  well  our  brother  lived,  how  well  he  died.  Remem- 
ber how  cheerful  he  was  in  every  dark  hour.  It  was  because 


21 


he  watched  in  Gethsemane  with  Jesus.  Oh  ! what  a bles- 
sing to  have  him  settled  so  near  us  in  heaven ! No  more 
Gethsemanes  for  him  ! But  we  read  of  the  transfiguration  of 
Christ,  that  4 there  appeared  Moses  and  Elias  talking 
with  him.’  So  we  comfort  our  hearts  that  our  dead  brother  is 
now  in  communion  with  the  Redeemer ; that  he  no  longer 
regrets  death,  but  has  found  it  to  be  an  installation  into  a 
new  and  more  glorious  work.’  ” 

Continuing  her  account  of  the  funeral,  his  sister  writes : 
“ The  second  hymn  was  that  beginning, 4 Servant  of  God,  well 
done,’  etc.  I was  very  thankful  for  the  beautiful  references 
to  his  father,  absent  in  a western  home,  for  whom  all  hearts 
seemed  full  of  sympathy,  and  to  Edward,  who  was  spoken  of 
as  now  the  only  son  and  brother,  and  in  the  same  work 
with  his  brother  gone,  and  far  away,*  deprived  of  the  privi- 
lege of  joining  with  the  others  of  us  at  his  grave.  It  was 
quite  dark  as  we  stood  about  his  grave.  But  some  felt  that 
it  was  sweetly  impressive  and  suitable,  that  his  lying  down 
in  his  last  resting  place  should  be  at  night  time,  when  he 
would  naturally  have  retired  to  sleep.” 

It  is  one  of  the  excellencies  of  the  Christian  Ministry,  that 
its  members  bear  toward  each  other  such  strong  affection  and 
high  esteem,  “ for  their  work’s  sake.”  From  among  estimates 
of  Mr.  Hooker’s  character,  personal  and  professional,  which 
have  received  expression,  a few  by  his  brethren  may  properly 
conclude  this  Memorial. 

The  Rev.  Frederick  Alvord,  who  succeeds  him  in  the  pas- 
torate of  the  First  Church  in  Nashua,  N.  H.,  writes  of  him: 

44  f first  met  Mr.  Hooker  at  Monson  Academy,  Massachu- 
setts, in  1850,  as  a student.  We  were  at  once  friends.  Our 
intercouse  was  uninterruptedly  intimate  and  pleasant.  For 
the  friend  I then  found  I shall  never  cease  to  be  thankful. 
Among  all  the  associates  of  my  schooi  days,  I have  not  found 
one  purer,  truer,  or  more  helpful.  To  be  associated  with  him 

* Rev.  Edward  T.  Hooker,  Pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church,  New 
Orleans,  La. 


22 


Was  a perpetual  benediction.  The  impression  he  made  upon 
me,  when  I first  saw  him,  I shall  never  forget.  Most  young 
men  at  that  age,  when  leaving  their  homes  for  school,  are  ro- 
bust and  ruddy,  the  pictures  of  health.  He  was  slender  in 
figure,  thin,  delicate,  and  from  his  appearance,  seemed  to  have 
known  little  of  out-door  life  or  the  athletic  sports  of  boy- 
hood. Our  instructor  often  expressed  fears  that  he  had  un- 
dertaken what  he  could  not  accomplish.  He,  however  under- 
stood his  own  constitution,  and  with  rigid  attention  to  diet, 
sleep  and  exercise,  was  able,  with  few  interruptions,  to  con- 
tinue his  studies,  and  took  rank  among  the  best  scholars  of  his 
class. 

“ He  brought  with  him  the  culture  of  a rare  home,  which 
gave  him  great  advantages,  for  home  culture  always  tells. 
He  was  faithful  in  every  relation.  “ Duty  first,”  was  his 
motto.  He  was  strictly  conscientious.  Principle  controlled 
him ; rarely  impulse.  Though  always  cheerful,  and  having 
a keen  relish  for  the  humorous,  he  was  superior  to  every- 
thing unbecoming  him  as  a student.  He  was  an  active  Chris- 
tian. His  piety  shone  in  his  life  and  hallowed  all  his  enjoy- 
ments and  duties.  At  the  close  of  the  academic  year  we 
parted,  going  to  different  colleges,  and  not  meeting  except  at 
long  intervals.  But  I did  not  lose  sight  of  him,  nor  lose  the 
ardor  of  my  first  attachment. 

“ Of  him  as  a professional  man,  I need  say  little  ; for  he  is 
well  known.  He  entered  upon  the  work  which  he  had  kept 
in  clear  view  through  all  the  years  of  his  preparatory  studies. 
Few  have  loved  the  ministry  more.  He  was  in  sympathy  with 
all  human  interests.  Asa  thinker  he  was  clear,  exact*  and 
logical ; his  style  rhetorical  and  polished,  and  his  diction 
pure  and  flowing. 

“ He  had  no  low  ambitions.  There  were  no  indirections  o f 
method  about  him,  no  half  revelations  of  his  real  purpose.  He 
carried  his  true  self  in  his  face,  and  in  all  he  said  and  did.  I may 
say,  without  exaggeration,  that  he  was  one  of  the  noblest 
men  whom  it  has  been  my  privilege  to  know.  And  his  early 


23 


death  was  to  me  a personal  affliction,  as  well  as  a loss  to  the 
Church.” 

The  Rev.  Dr.  William  Irwin,  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Troy,  New  York,  writes  of  him:  uIn  Princeton 
Theological  Seminary  he  was  one  class  before  me,  and  but  one 
year  with  me  there.  For  that  short  time  we  were  closely 
connected,  in  several  ways  ; I was  sure  to  see  him  three  times 
a day,  at  meals.  He  sat  at  the  foot  of  one  of  the  two  tables 
of  4 The  Allen  Club.’  He  was  quiet  but  aiways  genial  and 
companionable.  He  talked  little,  and  jested  less ; but  intense- 
ly enjoyed  and  heartily  laughed  at  the  jokes  of  a few  who 
were  in  the  habit  of  perpetrating  them.  He  was  usually 
grave  and  reserved,  perhaps  not  without  an  occasional  tinge 
of  melancholy,  and  yet  he  readily  responded  to  all  friendly 
advances,  and  undemonstrative  as  he  was,  he  was  generally 
and  greatly  esteemed  and  beloved.  He  ranked  very  high  in 
his  class,  for  both  industry  and  ability,  stood  second  to  none 
as  a student,  scholar  and  thinker,  and  commanded  universal 
respect  for  the  purity  and  solidity  of  his  Christian  charater. 
He  was  generally  considered  remarkable,  even  then,  both 
in  promise  and  performance  as  a preacher.  His  voice  w^as  rich 
and  sweet,  and  unusually  well  managed  and  modulated.  He 
had  bestowed  much  care  upon  its  training  and  with  consider- 
able success,  while  he  had  not  acquired  the  faults  of  an  over- 
wrought and  artificial  elocution.  His  deep,  mellow  base 
showed  to  fine  advantage  in  the  4 Hastings  Society  ’ or  Semi- 
nary Choir,  of  which  he  was  an  active  member.  He  was  still 
more  notable  in  a quartette  for  private  practice  and  recreation 
to  which  he  belonged . I never  saw  him  more  delighted  than 
when,  seated  with  others  around  my  table,  we  had  slowly  and 
laboriously  mastered  the  harmony  and  movement  of  some  dif- 
ficult German  ballad  or  glee.  Of  the  six  students  who  be- 
longed to  that  quartette,  two  only  survive  in  life,  of  whom  I 
am  one. 

44  You  are  greatly  blessed,  my  dear  Sir,  in  having  had  such 
a son,  even  though  you  have  lost  him.  I am  sure  that  your 


24 


sorrow  must  already  have  in  it  the  beginning  of  that  joy  into 
which  it  shall  one  day  be  wholly  turned.” 

Mr.  Hooker  while  in  the  pastorship  in  Nashua  being  in  re- 
lationship to  the  General  Association  of  New  Hampshire,  his 
decease  was  made  matter  for  notice  in  the  Necrological  Re- 
port, at  the  meeting  of  that  body  which  occurred  at  Exeter, 
September  1874.  Different  ministers,  in  connexion  with  the 
the  action  upon  that  report,  gave  expression  to  their  feelings, 
tenderly  remembering  him  as  a former  member  of  the  New 
Hampshire  Ministry.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Davis  of  Amherst  ex- 
pressed himself,  in  substance  as  follows  : 

“ I had  not  the  pleasure  of  knowing  Mr.  Hooker  very  in- 
timately. In  the  Hollis  Association,  he  always  contributed 
his  part,  whether  reading  himself  or  sitting  in  judgment  on  the 
writings  of  others,  with  a scholarly  enthusiasm  which  was 
cheering  to  all  present.  He  was  evidently  a master  in  the 
various  studies  of  his  profession,  and  his  opinion  was  always 
valuable,  and  admirable  for  its  felicitous  expression. 

“ But  the  point  specially  in  my  mind  is  the  singular  purity 
and  refinement  of  his  nature.  He  had  a rare  courtesy  in 
his  manner  ; a sweetness  and  dignity  peculiarly  fitting  to  the 
sacred  office.  Belonging  to  a ministerial  race,  descending 
from  and  bearing  the  names  of  Hooker  and  Edwards,  he  was 
4 an  Hebrew  of  the  Hebrews,’  and  as  such  represented  the 
choicest  qualities  of  the  families  from  which  he  sprang.  It  may 
be  a conceit  of  mine,  but  I cannot  avoid  the  impression  that 
ancestral  influences  had  much  to  do  in  forming  a character  so 
in  harmony  with  his  sacred  calling ; as  if  the  great  and  good 
elements  of  so  many  generations  of  ministers  had  been  re- 
fined and  purified  in  their  transmission  to  him.  There  was 
undeniably  a beautiful  harmony  between  the  spirit  and  the 
deportment  of  the  man  and  the  duties  of  his  office.  He  con- 
ciliated the  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him  as  a minister.  It 
was  so  at  Nashua  ; and  very  noticeably  so  among  the  students 
at  Hanover,  while  supplying  the  pulpit  of  Rev.  Dr.  Leeds,  in 
his  absence  abroad.  The  death  of  such  a man,  in  the  midst 


25 


of  his  days,  is  an  event  to  be  deplored  by  all  his  brethren. 
Let  us  try  to  keep  alive  his  memory,  and  strive  to  reproduce 
his  superior  excellence.” 

The  President  of  Dartmouth  College,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Asa  D. 
Smith,  writes  of  Mr.  Hooker  as  follows : 

“Very  fresh  and  fragrant  Avith  us  all,  in  Hanover,  is  the 
memory  of  his  ministrations  in  our  pulpit.  One  of  my  strong- 
est impressions  was  of  the  originality  and  freshness  of  his 
sermons.  They  were  not  imitations  or  reproductions,  but 
were  cast  in  the  mould  of  his  own  mind,  and  were  marked  by 
its  peculiar  hue  and  habitude.  He  would  often  interest  us  by 
the  evolution  of  some  great  general  truth  or  principle,  from  a 
single  turn  of  scripture  narration.  His  discourses  were  very 
vital  in  this  regard.  I recall,  as  an  illustration  of  this  remark, 
a sermon  on  Matt,  xxiv  : 2,  “ And  Jesus  said  unto  them,  see 
ye  not  all  these  things  ? Verily  T say  unto  you,  there  shall 
not  be  left  here  one  stone  upon  another  that  shall  not  be 
thrown  down.”  His  subject  was  substantially,  as  1 now  re- 
call it : u The  necessary,  wise  and  benevolent  passing  away, 
under  the  divine  economy  of  one  structure  after  another,  in 
the  history  of  individual  man,  the  Church  and  the  world.” 

“ His  discourses  were  evidently  elaborate,  both  in  thought 
and  diction,  and  they  were  unusally  uniform  in  excellence. 
He  did  not  deal  in  monthly  meteors  but  always  gave  us  some- 
thing, clearly  and  steadily  luminous.  He  shone  as  a fixed  star 
in  the  Master’s  right  hand.  As  I remember  he  was  less  ex- 
tended and  diffuse  in  the  application  of  truth,  than  some  men. 
His  sermons  were  apt  to  be  so  shaped  that  they  applied  them- 
selves. Not  alone  to  spiritual  men  was  his  preaching  interest- 
ing, but  to  the  congregation  generally. 

“But  he  is  not,  for  God  hath  taken  him.  It  is  a great  loss 
to  the  Church  of  God  on  earth.  I felt  it,  when  I heard  of  his 
death.  But  we  read,  “ His  servants  shall  serve  him.”  He  is 
engaged,  I doubt  not,  in  service  higher  and  better  than  earth 
can  afford,  and  in  which  his  glorified  powers  shall  have  eter- 
nal occupation  and  expansion.  It  is  well  with  him.  May  it 
be  well  with  us  when  we  are  called  to  follow  him.” 


The  Church  and  Society  in  Stockbridge  had  sometime  ago 
placed  on  the  right  and  left  of  their  pulpit,  marble  tablets, 
inscribed  in  memory  of  John  Sergeant,  Johnathan  Edwards, 
Stephen  West  and  David  D.  Field,  their  earliest  Pastors. 
They  have  added  to  the  group,  another,  inscribed  as  follows : 
IN  MEMORY  OF 

ELIAS  CORNELIUS  HOOKER, 

A LINEAL  DESCENDANT  OF 

JONATHAN  EDWARDS. 

Born  in  Bennington,  Vermont,  July  9, 1832.  Graduated  at 
William’s  College,  1857.  Installed  Pastor  of  this  Church 
June  16,  1870.  Died  at  the  Parsonage  December  5,  1873. 

Wholly  given  to  his  work,  he  made  the  hearts  of  this  peo- 
ple as  one,  in  love  to  him  and  love  to  “ the  Master.”  “Blessed 
are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.  Their  works  do  follow 
them.” 


f 

t 


